Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-08-05

TRAVELS In EUROPE.
BLUE MouNrAIN. JuIv 70. 1ss7

My DoUF QUO - our foreign letter this
week must come by way of the Blue Ridge
mountains, but | will try not to confuse the
two seasons and tell you that each mornng
as open my eyes here they rest upon the
Jungfrau-her white wreath and veil tinged
with golden light from the earliest rays OF
the newly awakened sun. That might
sound very well and cause you to ask from
what book | copied 1t, but II would not fit
the Blue Mountain, whose wreath Is OF ev-
ergreen, without any veil at all, until the
mists OF twilight fall upon ii and Unfold II
for while 10 rest. | am full Of the Blue
Ridge just now and find 1t difficult to go
back to---"as | was or saying" One thing
| must tell you, though, before begin about
our last summers trip.
Some years ago a young man visiting
these mountains wrote on piece of birch
bark found here the following lines
Herewith, my dear mother, send you
some birch, In
Return fer the 0ttcr got when an unchin;
You can see ut your age what the difference
Is;
From hat came blue ridge-from the
Blue Ridge comes this"
The mother, poor woman, had been brought
up on the maxim, "Spare the rod, spoil the
child" and had grown up good woman
in spite Of IT, so, naturally perhaps, she
thought the only way To mix goodness and
children was to whip them together as you
do the whites and yolks efeggs; but wheth-
or, as is often the case, the rod proved
conductor for the parental temper instead Of
the goodness do not know, but ut any rate
the rule did not work, and when she came
TO look for results, alas the goodness was
all in one lump and the boys in another l.
Strange that the terms "rod of correction"
"chastisement," &c, should always be con
sidered tg,yatige expressions when applied
10 adults, but be translated literally when
adapted TO Doer, helpless little children, and
that 20 macy Roed conscientious people
ieel About Their children as they do abou,
theif wheat, that II Providence sends the
crop they must provide the threshing ma
chine.
But we will now go TO Berne, which was
our next destination after Interlaken. This
Is, rs you know, the capital Of Switzerland,
and considered It's finest city It's streets,
while not clean, arc of good width and lined
on either side by arcades which form GOV
cred promenade. Above these arcades are
the residences, heavy looking buildings, not
attractive 10 strangers. In fact one must be
born in Berne to admire IL. The principal
objects OF interest are the cathedral, the two
handsome bridges crossing the river Aar,
which surrounds il on three sides, the bear
pit, and the clock with its chanticleer, its
procession of bears and Its puppet which
strikes the hour on an anvil. Tho cathedral
Is old and gloomy, but has some fine cary
ings Of sacred subjects, There Is also a
library, botanical garden and many
haa NJ 10 Ia Inc Ia th.
blem of the city bearing its name, and It's
ef1gy forms the ceatof.arms. The bear
pit Is menagerie maintained by the gov
eminent, and Is an interesting place TO visit.
The French carried these bears 10 Paris,
and one Of the first cares of the city elter
the return Of peace was 10 effect their resto-
ration. There is an old legend which tells
Of the city being saved by a bear, which
destroyed terrible giant who was In the
habit Of dining off little children stolen
away from their parents. In gratitude the
city was named for the bear and Its cfigy
meets the eye in every direction.
From this point ride Of four hours took
us 10 Lausanne, q queer, irrcgularly built
place which looks as though the houses had
been dropped down in great mass and had
taken root just where they fell. Still IL is
and pleasant resting place for
q few days
On our drive up to the hotel we were ac-
by an Englishman, his wife and
daughter. Getting into conversation with
him he asked from what part Of America
we came We told him from Washington.
"Ah, yes, and do you hayothose long-legged
pigs roaming round through the streets there
yet as you used 10 doW Frank told him
no, that the freedom OF the city never had
been accorded 10 pigs, except in that portion
Of II appropriated 10 the Irish, who did not
seem 10 DO able TO live without them That
man had some Irish grstconsins, aud hc
soon subsidized on the sabjcet ol pigs, 81.
though he showed his gderEncc Oti various
other matters. His wife and daughter were
Of him, and 90 nc ought 10 have
been Of himself
There is not much 10 sec at Lausanne, but
II Ia finely situated high above the lake.
Here Gibbon wrote his decline and Fall
Of the Roman Empire" or at least the later
volumes Of IT,
After a good nights rest we took the boat
on Lake Geneva for Vcyay, where we spent
a few hours visiting the old church OF 81.
Martin, from which Is fine view of the
lake and mountains and also walked through
a handsome private garden, open by the
courtesy Of the owner 70 strangers visiting
the town.
Going back TO the boat we continued on
the beautiful lake whose waters arc as blue
as indigo, while the river Rhine and other
Swiss lakes arc all green. This Is the larg-
est Of the Swiss lakes, being AZ miles long
and miles wide, or az wide as our Potomac
at its mouth. The scenery Is beautiful, be-
ing the combined perfection Of mountain,
lake and sky, while the points Of interest
dotted along It's banks made u one Of the
most delightful parts Of our trip.
Castle Chillon, immortallZed by Byron,
Ia Of course an objective point Here Is still
shown the iron ring 10 which was fastened
Francis Downward, the defender OF 0enevan
liberty, when imprisoned by the Duke OF
Savoy The castle itself Is an irregular
stone building, now used partly as an arson.
al and partly as a prison. II was built in
1888 by the Count Of Savoy as fortress Of
defense. II stands on an Isolated rock, and
is one Of the most striking features of Lake
Lenan or Geneva Another striking foa
ture is tho silver line OF the river Rhone,
which emerges at the city OF Geneva, and
preserves It's distinctive color far out into the
blue waters Of the lake.
But we have reached this lovely spot
Geneva, where we spent some very happy.
days Again We left our boat almost at the
door Of the hotel, which custom possesses
for US peculiar fascination, accustomed as
VIC arc In this country 10 landing always In
tho most unettractive parts Of our cities.